Virginia Lawmakers Consider Pioneering International Child Abduction Law
Online, January 18, 2011 (Newswire.com) - U.S. State Department highlights 16,000 American children abducted overseas
Virginia lawmakers are debating a pioneering new law to prevent international child abduction and assist in the recovery of parentally kidnapped children. The bipartisan Bill is unique in that it provides for the seizure and forfeiture of assets of child abductors and their accomplices, as well as creating a pool of specialized judges to hear international cases.
The US Department of State estimates 16,000 American children are unlawfully held overseas, and each year hundreds of children are abducted from and to America. International laws exist to assist in the return of kidnapped children, however many countries either refuse to comply and return kidnapped American children or the costs for left-behind parents are too great. It is not uncommon for parents to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to recover their children. The Bill is unique in providing for the seizure and liquidation of assets of abductors and those who assist them. The proposed Virginia law will provide deterrence to international child abduction.
The new law is also unique in that it reinforces the duty to return children abducted to Virginia from abroad. Half of the children kidnapped to America continue to be unlawfully retained here, damaging international relations and harming the chances of American parents recovering American children.
The Bill is sponsored by Senators Steve Martin (R) and Fred Quayle (R) and by Delegate Jennifer McClellan (D). The Bill has been drafted by Karl Hindle, whose child Emily Rose, was internationally abducted to the US, and Brandy Bond, the mother of two children, Lilly and Jasmine, whose father sought to take them to India for visitation.
About Karl Hindle & Brandy Bond
Karl Hindle is British and resides in Richmond VA and London UK. His youngest daughter, Emily Rose Hindle was abducted from the UK to the US in 2003. He works as an activist and advocate for other left-behind parents dealing with the consequences of international child abduction. He is currently working with the US Department of State on the recovery of the first child from Costa Rica and others.
Brandy Bond is the mother of two children, Lilly and Jasmine and lives in Richmond VA. Her ex-husband sought to take the children to India for a family gathering. She was shocked to find Chesterfield County Courts judges had no understanding of international child abduction guidelines and issues, nor the risk factor guidance issued by the American Bar Association and the U.S. Department of State.
Additional Information
1. Senators Steve Martin (R) & Fred Quayle (R) are Co-Chief Patrons of Senate Bill SB1141;
2. Delegate Jennifer McClellan (D) is Chief Patron of House Bill HB2361;
3. Summary of Bill as Introduced
Summary as introduced:
Child abduction. Provides that a chief judge shall designate a judge to hear and dispose of proceedings in which a person seeks enforcement of an order for the return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The bill also makes it a duty of the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse to maintain close liaison with the National Crime Information Center and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the exchange of information on children suspected of international travel. Furthermore, the bill makes property used to further the abduction subject to lawful seizure and forfeiture.
4. House website listing:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?111+sum+HB2361
5. U.S. Department of State website for Office of Childrens Issues:
http://travel.state.gov/abduction/abduction_580.html
Contact Information
Karl Hindle 804 882 0944 email: karl4work@gmail.com
8654 Scottingham Drive RICHMOND VA 23236
Brandy Bond 804 402 0994 email:ohtoodllles@gmail.com
12113 Timber Trail Drive RICHMOND VA 23112